BuiltWorlds

The leading digital-first, member network informing and connecting professionals in the built world Our industry is growing and shifting.

Understanding trends and the newest technologies is an important part of being prepared for these changes. At BuiltWorlds, we are exploring new and emerging technologies and trends. It is our goal to understand how our industry is changing, what technologies will drive those changes, and how our members can adapt.

12/22/2025

Registered for Venture West 2026? Make the most of your time by signing up for Dealmaker's Alley, another unique way BuiltWorlds continues to connect capital, technology and industry in the architecture, engineering, construction and operations sectors.

Available exclusively to attendees of BuiltWorlds' Venture West, Dealmaker's Alley takes the hassle out of tracking people down, planning meetings, and coordinating a space. Instead, the BuiltWorlds team provides a structured way for investors and startups to schedule meetings and discuss potential opportunities in a quiet, private environment separate from the main conference area. Let our team know you're interested in participating in this year's Dealmaker's Alley: https://share.hsforms.com/1pjgt9CiOQnuseLuMn6J9bg7rku

Not yet registered for Venture West? Reserve your ticket to be eligible for Dealmaker's Alley: https://builtworlds.com/event/2026-venture-west/

12/19/2025

Catch a glimpse of this month's Offsite Construction Conference and Demo Day Competition, hosted by DPR Construction's Digital Building Components and SurePods! We had a great time meeting with our Offsite Construction Research Track Working Group, where the small group unpacked emerging trends, supply chain pressures and growth opportunities for industrialized construction with speakers Jessica DuBose, Rudy Trujillo and Travis McCoy, followed by a tour of the DBC and SurePods facility open to all conference attendees.

We ended the night with our signature Demo Day Competition, where seven startup entrepreneurs to the stage to present their solutions to our panel of expert judges. The competition was fierce, but ultimately Supersede CEO Sean Petterson impressed judges with the company's eco-friendly, high-performance sheathing material solution and took home the top prize. Learn more about presenting at an upcoming Demo Day: https://builtworlds.com/builtworlds-venture-startup-demo-days/

Thanks to all who joined us in Phoenix for Offsite Construction 2025, and congratulations to Sean and the Supersede group!

📽️ Sierra LaDuke

12/18/2025

Nominations and applications for the BuiltWorlds Awards Program are open! Each year, we're proud to recognize and celebrate the leaders pushing our industry forward across every sector. Submit your nominations: https://builtworlds.com/builtworlds-awards-program/

Learn a little more about each of the upcoming awards below ⤵️

🟢 The Investor of the Year Awards celebrate the investment leaders shaping the built environment—not only through the capital they deploy, but through their strategic engagement, ecosystem support, and long-term commitment to advancing innovation across the sector. The deadline to apply or nominate a leader is January 21, 2026. The 2025 Investor of the Year Awards will be presented to winners at Venture West in San Francisco happening March 11-12, 2026. Learn more: https://builtworlds.com/event/2026-venture-west/

🟠 The Annual Mavericks Awards recognize individuals who are driving meaningful impact across the built environment, honoring leaders across the industry. From innovators advancing new technologies to practitioners reshaping on-the-ground delivery, it celebrates the people whose vision, dedication, and contributions are elevating how our world is designed, constructed, and operated. The deadline to nominate an industry leader is January 21, 2026. Mavericks will be celebrated at the Chicago Global Summit happening April 14-16, 2026. Learn more: https://builtworlds.com/event/2026-chicago-summit/

🔵 BuiltWorlds’ Global Innovator Awards recognize organizations advancing the future of the built environment by embracing and driving the technology that fuels the industry’s digital transformation. These leading AECO companies, supported by strategic venture initiatives, accelerators, and innovation programs, are propelling the sector toward a new era of continuous growth, adoption, and opportunity. Global Innovators are selected from nominations or recognition from the BuiltWorlds team and must meet minimum criteria to be considered for the award. The deadline to nominate your organization is February 18, 2026. Global Innovators will be celebrated at our annual Paris Global Summit in June 2026. Learn more: https://builtworlds.com/event/2026-paris-summit/

12/17/2025

Venture West 2026 is right around the corner and we're making it easier than ever to attend with EARLY-BIRD PRICING! Non-members that reserve their seat before February 2, 2026, will receive a 20% discount: https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/6f87ctjnbhej

Venture West will be convening again in San Francisco, Calif., in March 2026, one of two BuiltWorlds events focused on venture investing and overall activity in the built environment. The event examines the flow of and thinking behind investment in the AEC industry from the perspective of investors, startups and contractors.

BuiltWorlds members are able to reserve their spot using one of their allocated tickets here (please note, members must be logged into their BuiltWorlds accounts to reserve tickets): https://builtworlds.com/event/2026-venture-west/

12/16/2025

📣 Keynote Announcement!

We're thrilled to be joined at the upcoming 2026 AI/ML Conference by Yale School of Architecture Deputy Dean and Professor in Practice Phil Bernstein for the keynote presentation titled "Addressing Fragmentation in AECO"!

Bernstein received both his B.A. and M.Arch from Yale University and has served the university for the past 36 years in various capacities, honored twice by DesignIntelligence as one of the “30 Most Admired Educators in Architecture”.

During the keynote, Bernstein will also share insights gleaned outside of academia during his time as vice president at Autodesk, where he was responsible for the company’s BIM strategy that included the development of the Autodesk Revit platform. Prior to Autodesk, Bernstein worked as an associate principal for Pelli Clarke & Partners managing many of the firm’s most complex commissions, including projects for the Mayo Clinic, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, UCLA, and Goldman Sachs.

We can't wait to hear from Phil in February and hope you'll join us in Austin for an AI/ML Conference you won't want to miss! We sold out last year, so don't wait to reserve your spot. Early bird registration is live now for non-members: https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/6f87288yoy4x

Members can reserve their tickets here: https://builtworlds.com/event/2026-ai-ml-conference/

12/15/2025

We kicked off the main day of programming for the 2025 Offsite Construction Conference with an insightful keynote presentation delivered by DPR Construction Enterprise Prefab Leader Ray Boff. Ray set the tone for the rest of the day, sharing his thoughts on where the offsite ecosystem is headed in the next three to five years.

"We still have a perception that prefab is cheap and has low-quality buildings, and then there's been a lack of compliance in regulatory bodies supporting [the evolution of prefab]," Boff acknowledged. "But, I do firmly believe that we are getting there." The sector, according to Boff, while once highly fragmented is now consolidating with more vertical integration, strong digital BIM automation improvements, and more strategic scaling with investments. Focusing in on how companies can harness the benefits of prefabrication, Boff identified four key traits that current leaders in the ecosystem share:
1. A product mindset
2. A digital backbone
2. An integrated manufacturing workflow
4. A commitment to continuous improvements in behavioral shifts

We're excited to share the full recording with our audience, so you can hear Ray's insights directly! Watch the full keynote: https://lnkd.in/gjkYiaXt

Thanks, Ray, for joining us in Phoenix and sharing your perspectives and keen insights into the future of prefabrication and offsite construction! We're looking forward to continuing these discussions at more BuiltWorlds events in the future. Check out our 2026 calendar of events: https://lnkd.in/gVrUAdZd

12/08/2025

The next installment of the BuiltWorlds Conversations webinar series will have our Director of Marketing and Communications James McClister sitting down with two AI experts, NVIDIA AECO Industry Developer Relations AI Lead Alfonso Oliva and Keeley Construction Head of Data, Analytics & AI Robin Patra, for a conversation exploring how the technology applies to the AEC industry.

Happening in January 2026 as part of lead up to the 2026 AI/ML Conference, this free virtual discussion offers attendees a chance to dive into incorporating AI into existing tech stacks, limitations of the technology, and the trajectory of development for AECO applications. Stay tuned for more updates, including the finalized date! Learn more and register your interest: https://builtworlds.com/event/builtworlds-conversations-offsite-construction-exploring-ai/

See who else will be speaking at this year's AI/ML Conference and the variety of topics they'll be covering: https://builtworlds.com/event/builtworlds-conversations-offsite-construction-exploring-ai/

12/04/2025

Attendees of next week's Offsite Construction Conference, happening in Phoenix, Ariz., have the opportunity for an immersive, exclusive combined facility tour of DPR Construction's subsidiaries Digital Building Components and SurePods! We're excited to kick off this year's event with a unique look behind-the-scenes of two industry-leading prefab manufacturers, as well as our BuiltWorlds research track working group meetings and signature Demo Day Competition highlighting innovative startups in the offsite, modular, and prefab space.

Get an exclusive sneak peek at next week's site visits: https://builtworlds.com/news/builtworlds-2025-offsite-construction-conference-get-ready-for-an-exclusive-day-1-experience-with-surepods-and-digital-building-components-facility-tours/

Learn more and register now to attend BuiltWorlds Offsite Construction Conference: https://builtworlds.com/event/2025-offsite-construction-conference/

12/03/2025

The BuiltWorlds Technology Specialty Reports offer a centralized, reliable source of clear, third-party insights on a broad range of construction technology solutions. We're excited to release the 2025 AI Tech Specialty Reports, expanding the conversation on AI innovation in construction. Today, we're sharing takeaways from two of the reports.

Strategy, Investment, & Priorities Tech Specialty Report Takeaway:
Analysis of the top five factors driving AI investment reveals minor variations based on organization type. Specifically, improving operational efficiency and productivity was the paramount investment driver for all general contractors actively investing in AI. In contrast, all respondents in the "other" category, which includes engineering, architecture, and consulting firms, cited staying competitive within the industry as their primary factor influencing active AI investment.
Read the full report: https://builtworlds.com/insights/2025-ai-strategy-investment-priorities-tech-specialty-report/

Use Cases & Operational Impact Tech Specialty Report Takeaway:
AI adoption is highest in the project management and preconstruction areas, likely due to these phases involving data-intensive tasks like scheduling, cost estimation, and risk analysis. Since digital workflows are common here, these areas offer a natural starting point for measurable efficiency gains before AI expands into operational areas. Trailing adoption areas include field management (safety/progress tracking), equipment and robotics (autonomous operation), and building technology (energy optimization/smart management).
Read the full report: https://builtworlds.com/insights/2025-ai-use-cases-operational-impact-tech-specialty-report/

Stay tuned for more takeaways from this year's BuiltWorlds AI Tech Specialty Reports!

Want to get more involved in the discussion surrounding AI innovations in AECO? Attend the 2026 AI/ML Conference in February! Learn more and take advantage of early-bird pricing: https://builtworlds.com/event/2026-ai-ml-conference/

Join the AI/ML Preparedness Research Track Working Group for exclusive small group sessions, content, and research. Learn more: https://builtworlds.com/research-track-ai-ml/

12/02/2025

Our speaker lineup for the upcoming AI/ML Conference is really starting to take shape. We're thrilled to share the second wave of speakers who will be joining us in Austin, Texas, on February 17-18 to dive into artificial intelligence and machine learning innovations in AECO:

🟣 Steve Dell'Orto, founder & CEO of ConCntric
🔵 Pierce Reynoldson, AIA, VP of technology & innovation at Entech Engineering, Inc
🟣 Anna Chaney, director of engineering at Procore Technologies
🔵 Aleksey Chuprov, VP data analytics & AI at Suffolk Construction
🟣 Stefani Guerra, chief technical officer at The Falcon Group
🔵 Forest Flager, co-founder & CEO of Parspec
🟣 Brian Nahas, director of artificial intelligence at Mortenson
🔵 David Grosshuesch, senior manager of data analytics at Mortenson
🟣 Britton L., founder & CEO of Build Factory
🔵 Christopher Velguth, senior business development manager at ORION
🟣 Raymond Zhao, CEO of Structured AI
🔵 Gavin Holiday, principal at Unorthodox Ventures

With topics spanning the data center boom, AI for subcontractors, and ethics/data ownership in AECO, this event will offer insights for every segment of the industry. Members of our AI/ML Preparedness, Equipment & Robotics, and Building Tech working groups are invited to attended smaller working group sessions prior to the main day of programming. Not a working group member but want to attend a meeting? Get in touch today: https://tinyurl.com/yprwdu6t

Check out the conference agenda and register before January 1 to take advantage of early-bird pricing: https://builtworlds.com/event/2026-ai-ml-conference/

12/01/2025

AI was a hot topic at last month's Venture East event which took place in Boston, Mass. One of our first panel sessions dove into the rapidly-developing technology, asking "Is AI Eating the World?"

We had the opportunity to hear from industry leaders Ty Findley (Ironspring Ventures), René Morkos, Ph.D. (ALICE Technologies), Patrick Lalonde (EllisDon Corporation), Tom Scarangello (Thornton Tomasetti), and Arvind Veluvali (Fresco AI) on a panel moderated by our very own Rosemarie Lipman. As AI transforms the built environment, panelists explored how processes are being reshaped in real time, new efficiencies are being unlocked, and both challenges and opportunities are arising for construction companies.

Are we headed for a "Mr. Robot-like" future? Watch the full panel to see what our industry experts had to say: https://builtworlds.com/videos/ai-eating-world-venture-east-2025-panel-session/

Want more discussions on AI in construction? Join us in February, 2026, for the annual BuiltWorlds AI/ML Conference in Austin, Texas. Early-bird registration is now live! Learn more: https://builtworlds.com/event/2026-ai-ml-conference/

11/26/2025

📣 Early-Bird Pricing Alert!

Get ready for the BuiltWorlds 2026 AI/ML Conference, taking place next February in Austin, Texas, and take advantage of our early-bird non-member discount when you register before January 1, 2026! Register now: https://lnkd.in/gDZb9zN3

Members can register using their allotted tickets on the BuiltWorlds event page (members must be logged in to BuiltWorlds to reserve tickets): https://lnkd.in/gca3UDfE

We'll be exploring the growing and increasingly complicated landscape of AI across the AECO industry, providing context on existing and emerging solutions, use cases, and strategies for implementation. With programming spanning engaging panel discussions, interactive roundtables, our signature Demo Day Competition, and unique networking opportunities, we'll be meeting with and hearing from technologists, innovators, and other industry leaders in AI. We hope you'll be able to join us!

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Over the past five years, BuiltWorlds has fostered the premier global network of construction industry leaders. Through intimate peer-to-peer conferences and online resources, these industry leaders identify where the industry is heading and how best to help their companies benefit from those changes.